Netizen 24 MYS: Rafidah: No reason to apologise about Equanimity

Former minister says 'story about Equanimity just unfolding' and a lot of apologies are due for the 1MDB mess.

Rafidah Aziz, who said she tracked Equanimity, had previously asked why Malaysia did not seize the yacht.

PETALING JAYA: Former minister Rafidah Aziz said today she has no reason to apologise for her recent comments about the superyacht Equanimity as suggested by 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy.

âThe story seems to be just unfolding. Apologise for what? For stating the facts?â, the former Wanita Umno chief said in a text message to FMT.

In an interview with a Singapore newspaper, Arul Kanda had said critics, including Rafidah, should have apologised for making âmalicious statementsâ about the seizure of Equanimity by Indonesian police in cooperation with the US authorities. A judge later ordered the yacht to be released, saying the owner had not been convicted of any crime and the police had acted illegally.

US officials have alleged that the yacht was bought by Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, with funds siphoned off from government investment company 1MDB.

Rafidah said her comments were about why Malaysian authorities had not traced Equanimity and seized it, especially when there were reports that it had entered Malaysian waters. However, government ministers have stated that there was no case against Equanimity in Malaysia.

In response to Arul Kanda, Rafidah said: âStop talking nonsense. The Indonesians could do it. Arul should try to explain truthfully, the 1MDB mess to the rakyat, who simply cannot accept, whatever he has blabbered on so far. I believe a lot of apologies are due to the rakyat.â

The yacht is among assets linked to Low which US authorities inten d to seize. Other assets include a private jet, a hotel and real estate in New York, allegedly bought with some US$4.5 billion stolen from 1MDB through fraud and money laundering.